A microwave minute refers to a unit of time equal to one minute, just like any other minute in standard timekeeping. In terms of duration, a microwave minute is the same as a minute measured by a clock or a timer. When you set a microwave oven to cook for one minute, it will operate for 60 seconds, just like a regular minute. The term "microwave minute" is often used in the context of cooking or heating food in a microwave oven to indicate the duration of a cooking cycle.